Freight bracing apparatus



Oct. 3, 1967 J. J. KOSTREWA 3,344,750

' FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS v Original Filed Feb. 11, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR X 72%;? tf'fi asz rcu d BY 2'?" awn/1:9

J. J. KOSTREWA FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Oct. 3, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 11, 1964 INVENTOR. A26 2 72': 204

BY M a zwz/ f Oct. 3, 1967 J. J. KOSTREWA FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 11, 1964 J&

JZ w 74/ F U 1a 7 United States Patent M 3,344,750 FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS John J. Kostrewa, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Evans Products Company, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 344,124, Feb. 11, 1964. This application Jan. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 622,376 18 Claims. (Cl. 105-369) The present invention relates to freight bracing apparatus of the type adapted for use in freight receiving chambers for effecting a desired reduction in one dimension of the chamber to eliminate excessive clearance between the freight and the walls of the chamber.

This application is a continuation of my copending patent application of the same title, Ser. No. 344,124, filed Feb. 11, 1964, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

One common use of such equipment is in railway boxcars where it may be installed along one or both sides of the car and is commonly referred to as side wall fillers, or just side fillers. For purposes of illustration, but not by way of limitation, the improved freight bracing apparatus of the present invention will be illustrated and described herein as installed and used in a boxcar. It will be appreciated that side fillers are desirable where the nature of the load is such that it cannot be made to fill the full width of the car, but is such that a side filler can adequately engage it to support it against lateral shifting. This is frequently the case with freight in cartons, boxes or crates and especially so with palletized loads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved freight bracing apparatus of the above mentioned type which is simple in design, rugged and durable in construction reliable and eflicient in operation, readily adjustable between a stowed position and a plurality of operative positions, which occupies a minimum of space in the stowed position, which has a wide range of operative positions, and which is supported in spaced position above the floor and is easily moved between all positions.

Other and more detailed objects of the present invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which like reference characters designate like parts and wherein: 7

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic broken horizontal sectional View of a portion of a railway boxcar having freight bracing apparatus embodying the present invention installed therein, and shown in plan.

FIGURE 2 is a broken vertical sectional view of the railway boxcar portion shown in FIGURE 1 and showing the freight bracing apparatus of the present invention in elevation.

FIGURE 3 is a broken vertical sectional view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1 takensubstantially along the line 33 thereof. 7

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 3 taken substantially along the line 44 thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4 taken substantially along the line 55 thereof.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4 taken substantially along the line 66 thereof.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged broken elevational view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of the arrow 7.

FIGURE 8 is a. broken enlarged sectional view of that portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4 indicated by the circle 8.

FIGURE 9 is a broken enlarged sectional view of a 3,344,750 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 its stowed position.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the latch illustrated in FIGURE 11.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 show a fragmentary portion of a railway boxcar generally indicated at 20 and including a floor 22, an end wall 24 and a side wall structure 26 which includes vertically extending Z-shaped structural posts 28, These figures show a plurality of the applicants improved side fillers generally indicated at 30 which, it will be appreciated, are shown in a variety of positions of adjustment for purposes of illustrating different operative positions which the side filler may occupy, as well as illustrating its stowed position, the right-hand side filler 30, as viewed in FIG- URES l and 2, being in its stowed position and the other side fillers 30 being in four different operative positions. In actual use it is unlikely that the side fillers would occupy the positions illustrated, in any given loading of the car. It will be appreciated, of course, that in its stowed position the side filler is also adapted to be engaged by and to support freight against lateral movement.

Each side filler 30 generally comprises a panel 32 formed of plywood or other suitable material which is connected to and supported on the wall structure 26 by frame means generally indicated at 34, see FIGURE 3. This frame means supports the panel 32 on the wall structure posts 28 for movement at right angles to the wall structure 26 between its stowed position and a plurality of operative positions, several of which are illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 and includes means for holding the panel in each of its positions.

The panel 32 is provided with handgrip recesses 36 at the opposite sides thereof to facilitate gripping of the panel during movement thereof between its various positions. On the back of the panel, that is, the side of the panel adjacent the wall structure, and extending vertically therealong in spaced relation to the opposite edges thereof, are a pair of angle frame elements 38 which are secured to the panel 32 by a plurality of bolts 40. Mounted on the posts 28 of the wall structure 26 are four vertically spaced horizontal wall frame strips 42, 44, 46 and 48, best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. These strips are interconnected by vertically extending wall frame strips 50 and 52 and the wall frame formed by the strips 42 through 52, inclusive, is welded in position on the posts 28. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the horizontal wall frame strips 42, 44, 46 and 48 of each side filler 30 have an offset postion 49 for overlapping the adjacent end of the corresponding strip of an adjacent side filler and facilitating connection thereto as by welding.

Extending between the angles 38 and the wall frame formed by the strips 42 through 52, inclusive, and generally indicated at 54 (see FIGURE 4) in the preferred embodiment illustrated, are a pair of scissor-type interconnecting frame assemblies generally indicated at 56 and 58, as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 5. These upper and lower frame assemblies 56 and Y58 are substantially identical, except that the upper frame assembly 56 carries the latch structure as hereinafter described. Each of the frame assemblies 56 and 58 includes an outer U-shaped frame section 60 and an inner U-shaped frame section 62. The frame section 62 has spaced parallel legs 64 which are disposed between the spaced parallel legs 66 of the outer frame section. Adjacent their midpoints, the

legs 64 and 66 of the frame sections 60 and 62 are pivotally connected by a rod 68 so that the frame sections 60 and 62 and the interconnecting rod 68 form an assembly very similar to the well-known campstool without the canvas seat. The legs 64 and 66 are channel-shaped and oppositely facing, as shown in FIGURE 6, with their web portions adjacent one another. The opposite ends of the rod 68 extend through flanged ferrules, the heads of which are shown at 126 in FIGURE 4 and serve as bearing surfaces maintaining the legs 64 and 66 in spaced relation. The ends of the rod 68 are held against withdrawal from these ferrules by any suitable means, such as the washer 128 and cotter pin 130 shown in the lower right-hand portion of FIGURE 4. The free ends of the legs 66 of the frame section 60, that is, the ends corresponding to the feet of the campstool frame, are connected to the wall frame 54 adjacent the top and bottom thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 5 by hinges 70, one leaf of each hinge at the upper end of the frame 54 being welded to the frame strip 42 and the corresponding leaf of each hinge at the lower end of the frame 54 being welded to the frame strip 48. The other leaves of the hinges 70 are welded to the legs 66. The free ends of the legs 64 of the frame section 62 are slidably mounted in tracks 72 which are vertically disposed and welded to the wall frame strips 44 and 46 as shown in FIG- URE 5, the tracks 72 of the upper frame assembly 56 being welded to the frame strip 44 and the tracks 72 of the lower frame assembly 58 being Welded to the frame strip 46. As best shown in FIGURE 6, these tracks 72 are formed of sheet metal and rectangular in cross section and provided with an opening 74 through which the end portion of the leg 64 extends. Welded to the end of the leg 64 and disposed within the track 72 is a transverse pin 76 adapted to slide along the track 72 and co-operate with the latter to prevent movement of the end of the leg 64 at right angles to the wall structure 26. At the opposite ends of the legs 64 the inner frame section 62 is completed by a bar 78 which extends at right angles to and is welded to the legs 64 and extends substantially beyond these legs 64 to provide end portions 80 which are 'pivotally mounted in bearing strips 82 welded on the angles 38. The bar 78 is held against longitudinal movement by tabs 84 struck upwardly from the angles 38 as best illustrated in FIGURES 4, 6 and 9.

In the frame section 60 the ends of the legs 66 adjacent the panel 32 are interconnected by a tube 86 welded to and extending beyond the legs 66. This tube 86 at its opposite ends carries pins 88 which are selectively received in apertures90 in latch strips generally indicated at 92 which are movably mounted on the angles 38 at the back of the panel 32. This latch strip 92 is formed of sheet metal and is generally Z-shaped in cross section as best illustrated in FIGURE 6. One flange 93 of the latch strip 92 extends longitudinally of the angle 38 and is mounted thereon for sliding movement transversely of the angle 38 and parallel to the panel 32 by guide plates 94 and 96 welded to the angles 38. The guide plate 96 is cut out as indicated at 98 to provide a recess covered by the guide plate 94 which receives the end portion of the flange 93 of the latch strip 92. The web portion 100 of the latch strip 92 extends at right angles to the panel 32 and has the above-mentioned apertures 90 formed therein, which apertures 90 receive the pins 88 when the latch strip 92 is in the latched position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 6. The latch strip 92 may be moved by means hereinafter described, from the latched position to the unlatched position illustrated in broken lines in FIG- URE 6, in which it will be seen that the portion 100 of the latch strip has been moved to the left of the ends of the pins 88, thus disengaging the latch strip from the pins 88. The second flange 102 of the Z-shaped latch strip 92 extends at right angles to the web portion 100 in the opposite direction from the flange 93 and in spaced parallel relation to the panel 32. It will be seen in FIGURE .6

tube 86 from moving in a direction at right angles to t and away from the panel 32. It will also be appreciated that when the latch strip 92 is in the retracted position illustrated in broken lines, it co-operates with the angle 38 to guide the pins 88 during, and permit movement of the same longitudinally of the panel 32 and the angle 38. Such movement, of course, occurs after movement of the latch strip to its unlatched position and during movement of the panel 32 at right angles to the Wall structure 26 for moving the panel 32 between its various positions. In each of the operative positions of the panel 32 each of the pins 88 is aligned with one of the apertures in the latch strips 92.

Movement of the latch strips from the latched position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 6 to the unlatched or retracted position there illustrated in broken lines is effected by a handle 104 (see FIGURES 4 and 11), which is pivotally mounted on the panel 32 by a mounting and 112 which carry the latch strips 92 welded to the outer ends of the plates and which have overlapping corner portions, each provided with an elongated slot 114 through which extends the pin 108 upon which the handle 104 is mounted. The plates 110 and 112 are pinned to the handle 104 at opposite sides of the pin 108 by pins 116 and 118, respectively. It will now be appreciated that as the handle 104 is moved in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, it will act through the plates 110 and 112 to spread the latch strips 92 further apart, moving them from their latched position illustrated in FIGURE 6 in full lines, to the unlatched position there illustrated in broken lines. Return of the latch strips 92 to their latched position is effected by a spring 120 which is connected between the plates 110 and 112 as illustrated in FIGURE 4 and which, upon release of the handle 104, will return the latch strips 92 to their latched positions when the pins 88 are substantially aligned with apertures 90 in the latch strips 92. As best shown in FIGURE 6, the pins 88 have tapered ends facilitating engagement of the pins 88 in the latch strip apertures 90 and the accompanying return of the latch strips 92 to their latched position.

Movement of the pins 88 beyond the ends of the latch strips 92 during movement of the panel 32 away from the wall structure 26 while the latch strips 92 are in the unlatched positions, is prevented by stops 122 formed by turning the opposite end portions of the flange 102 through an angle of ninety degrees to a position best illustrated in FIGURE 6 so that they extend toward the panel 32. Access to the handle 104 from the front of the panel 32 is provided by a rectangular handle opening 124 best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 5, 11 and 12, the side filler 30 is held in the stowed position which, as indicated above, is the position of the right-hand side filler 30 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the position shown in 7 FIGURE 11, by a latch generally indicated at 132 which comprises a latch cylinder 134 mounted centrally of the horizontal frame strip 44 and carrying a latch bolt 136 which is urged downwardly by a spring 138 housed within the cylinder 134, the upper end of the spring engaging a washer 140 held in the upper end of the cylinder 134 and the lower end bearing against detents 142 formed on the latch bolt 136. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the latch bolt 136 extends through an aperture 144 provided in a horizontal flange 145 formed on the central portion of the frame strip 44 and extending toward the panel 32. The upper end of the latch bolt 136 is turned toward the panel 32 to provide a handle portion 146 which is accessible through a latch handle opening 148 provided in the panel 32. Turning of the latch bolt 136 in the cylinder 134, such as would interfere with access of the handle portion 146 through the opening 148, is prevented by a short rod section 150 which is Welded to the latch bolt 136. When the side filler is in its stowed position the lower end of the latch bolt 136 engages behind a keeper plate 152 which is Welded on the tube 86 as shown in FIGURE 11. When it is desired to move the side filler from the stowed position, the latch handle 146 is engaged to raise the bolt 136 out of engagement with the keeper 152 permitting the panel 32 to be moved away from the wall until the pins 82 become aligned with certain of the holes 90 in the latch strips 92.

It is believed that it is clear from the foregoing description of the illustrated structure that the latch strips 92 may be moved to their retracted or unlatched position by the handle 104, after which the'panel 32 may be moved to any selected one of its operative positions. The particular one of the operative positions in which the side filler is disposed is indicated by the position of the tube 86 which may be seen through a position indicator opening 154 provided in the panel 32 and the distance of the panel 32 from the side wall structure posts 28 may be directly read from indicia provided on the panel 32 adjacent the indicator opening 154. In one preferred embodiment the panel 32 is movable between five operative positions in which the freight engaging face of the panel 32 is spaced approximately five, eight, ten, twelve and fourteen inches, respectively, from the normal car side wall lining position, i.e., the position of the freight engaging face of the inner wall lining which would be on the posts 28 had it not been replaced by the side fillers 30.

It will be noted as best illustrated in FIGURE 5, that the portions of the legs 64 and 66 of the frame assemblies 56 and 58 at opposite sides of the pivot rods 68, are slightly different in length, the portions between the pivot rods 68 and the panel 32 being slightly longer than portions between the pivot rods 68 and the wall. This facilitates collapsing of the side filler into a minimum space in its stowed position.

It will also be noted that the above described side filler is supported on the side Wall structure and positioned in spaced relation above the floor 22. This facilitates easy movement of the panel 32 between its various positions. To prevent anything from projecting into or being caught under the lower edge of the panel 32 when it is in the stowed position, a filler strip 156 formed of Wood or other suitable material, extends along the floor 22 in engagement with the posts 28 and is of a height from the floor to substantially fill this space. Also, to prevent anything from projecting into or being caught in the space behind the panel 32 of the side filler 30, which is adjacent the freight car door opening indicated at 158, when the side filler is in its stowed position, a vertical strip 160 is provided which may be formed of plywood or other suitable material and has one vertical edge fastened to .the post at the doorway opening and has its other vertical edge disposed in close proximity to the edge of the panel 32 of the adjacent side filler when the latter is in its stowed position.

While only one specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail herein, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

What'is claimed is: t

1. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage a freight and frame means connecting said panel to said well structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said frame means comprising a first pair of spaced parallel legs, a second pair of spaced parallel legs and means intermediate the ends of the legs of each pair of legs pivotally interconnecting the respective legs of said pairs, means at one end of said first pair of legs connecting corresponding ends thereof to said wall structure for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative to said wall structure, means at one end of said second pair of legs connecting corresponding ends thereof to said panel for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative 'to said panel, latch pin means on said first pair of legs at the other end thereof. latch strip means mounted on said panel and having a plurality of latch openings selectively receiving said latch pin means, means for effecting relative movement between said latch pin means and said latch strip means to withdraw said pin means from said openings, said latch strip means co-operating with said panel when said 'pin means is withdrawn from said openings to guide said pin means for sliding movement along said panel while preventing movement at right angles thereto, co-operating means connecting the other end of said second pair of legs to said wall structure for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement of that end at right angles to the wall structure.

2. A freight bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first pair of legs are interconnected at their other end by means of web means forming at least in part the latch pin means.

3. A freight bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including an opening formed in the panel adjacent the Web means throughout its range of movement relative. to said panel and through which said web means may be viewed and indicia means formed on said panel adajacent said opening for facilitating the indication of the relative position of said web means to said panel and the relative position of said panel to the adjacent wall structure.

4. A freight bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including biasing means for biasing the latch strip means into their engaged position with the latch pin means wherein said latch pin means are received in the selected openings of said latch strip means.

5. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustablefor supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said frame means com; prising a pair of frame elements each including a pair of interconnected spaced parallel legs and means intermediate the ends of the legs of each frame element pivotally interconnecting said frame elements, means at one end of said frame elements connecting corresponding ends of the legs thereto to said wall structure for pivotal movement about and axis fixed relative to said wall structure, means at oneend of the other of said frame elements connecting corresponding ends of the legs thereof to said panel for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative to said panel, latch pin means on said one of said frame elements at the other end thereof, latch strip means mounted on said panel and having a plurality of latch openinges selectively receiving said latch pin means, means for e'lfecting relative movement between said latch pin means and said latch strip means to withdraw said pin means from said openings, said latch strip means co-operating with said panel when said pin means is withdrawn from said openings to guide said pin means for sliding movement along said panel while preventing movement at right angles thereto, co-operating means connecting the other end of the other of said frame elements to said wall structure for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement of that end at right angles to the wall structure.

6. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted .to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right .angles' to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said means comprising a pair of U- shaped frame elements having spaced parallel legs interconnected at one end by a web portion having end portions extending beyond the leg portions, means pivotally interconnecting said frame elements intermediate the ends of said legs, means connecting the opposite ends of the legs of one of said frame elements to said wall structure for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, means connecting the opposite ends of the legs of the other of said frame elements to said wall structure for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement at right angles thereto, means pivotally mounting said end portions of the web portion of said other of said frame elements on said panel for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, a pair of latch strips mounted on said panel for movement to ward and away from each other and having a plurality of openings adapted to selectively receive said end portions of the web portion of said one of said frame elements, means connected to said latch strips for simultaneously moving them to withdraw said end portions from said openings, means for biasing said latch strips against such movement, said latch strips co-operating with said panel when they have been moved to withdraw the end portions of said one of said frame elements from said openings to guide said end portions for sliding movement along said panel while preventing movement at right angles thereto.

7. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for support ing freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to'the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said means comprising a pair of frame elements having spaced parallel legs interconnected at one end by a web portion, means pivotally interconnecting said frame elements intermediate the ends of said legs, means connecting the opposite ends of the legs of one of said frame elements to said wall structure for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative'thereto, means connecting the opposite ends of the legs of the other of said frame elements to said wall structure for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement at right angles thereto, means pivotally mounting the web portion of said other of said frame elements relative to said panel for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, a pair of latch strips mounted on said panel for movement between latched and unlatched positions and having a plurality of openings adapted to selectively receive said web portion of said one of said frame elements in their latched position, means connected to said latch strips for simultaneously moving them to remove said web portions from said openings, and means for biasing said latch strips against such movement.

8. Freight bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the latch strips further include means for cooperating with the panel when they have been moved to the unlatched posit-ion to guide said web portions for sliding movement along said panel while preventing move ment at right angles thereto.

9. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus, comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced difiering distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said means comprising a wall frame adapted 'to be secured to said wall structure, panel frame members secured to said panel, and a pair of scissor type frames connected between said panel frame members and said wall frame and supporting said panel and said panel frame members on said wall frame, each said scissor type frame comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected frame elements each having a pair of spaced interconnected legs and each leg being disposed in crossed relation with a corresponding leg of the other frame element and pivotally connected thereto intermediate the ends of both legs, each of said scissor type frames being provided with means connecting corresponding ends of the legs of one of said elements to said panel frame members for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, means connect-ing the other ends of said last mentioned legs to said wall frame for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement at right angles to said panel, and means connecting corresponding ends of the legs of the other frame element to said wall frame for pivotal movement about an aXis fixed relative thereto, said scissor type frames being substantially mirror images one of the other with said means connecting the leg ends for pivotal movement about fixed axes relative to the wall frame and panel frame members being disposed remotely from one another and the means connecting the leg ends for sliding movement along the wall frame being disposed adjacent one another, a pair of latch strips extending between said scissor type frames and having two groups of spaced openings individual to said scissor type frames, said other of said frame elements of each scissor type frame having pin means at the other ends of the legs thereof, the pin means of one scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of one of said groups and the pin means of the other scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of the other of said groups, means mounting said latch strips on said panel for movement between first positions in which said pin means are received in aligned ones of said openings and second positions in which said pin means are withdrawn from said openings, a latch handle, and means connecting said handle to both of said latch strips for simultaneously moving said latch strips, said latch strips being adapted when in said second position to cooperate with said panel frame members for guiding said pin means for sliding movement along said latch strips while preventing movement of said pin means at right angles to said panel.

10. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and frame means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said frame means comprising a wall frame adapted to be secured to said wall structure, panel frame members secured to said panel, and a pair of scissor type frames connected between said panel frame members and said wall frame and supporting said panel and said panel frame members on said wall frame, each said scissor type frame comprising a first and second pair of pivotally interconnected legs each pair having parallel legs, each leg of said first pair being disposed in crossed relation with a corresponding leg of said second pair and pivotally connected thereto intermediate the ends of both legs, each of said scissor type frames being provided with means connecting corresponding ends of the legs of one of said pairs to said panel frame members for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, means connecting the other ends of said last mentioned legs to said wall frame for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement at right angles to said panel, and means connecting corresponding ends of the legs of the other of said pairs to said wall frame for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, said scissor type frames being substantially mirror images one of the other with said means connecting the leg ends for pivotal movement about fixed axes relative to the wall frame and panel frame members being disposed remotely from one another and the means connecting the leg ends for sliding movement along the wall frame being disposed adjacent one another, a pair of latch strips extending between said scissor type frames and having two groups of spaced openings individual to said scissor type frames, said other of said pairs of legs of each scissor type frame having pin means at the other ends of the legs thereof, the pin means of one scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of one of said groups and the pin means of the other scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of the other of said groups, means mounting said latch strips on said panel for movement between first positions in which said pin means are received in aligned ones of said openings and second positions in which said pin means are withdrawn from said openings, a latch handle, and means connecting said handle to both of'said latch strips for simultaneously moving said latch strips, said'latch strips being adapted when in said second position to cooperate with said panel frame members for guiding said pin means for sliding movement along said latch strips while preventing movement of said pin means at right angles to said panel. V

11. A freight bracing'apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the other ends of the legs of the other pair of legs of one of the scissor type frames are interconnected by web means forming at least in part the pin means.

12. A freight bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further including an opening formed in the panel adjacent the web means throughout its range of movement relative to said panel and through which said web means may be viewed and indica means formed on said panel adjacent said opening for facilitating the indication of the relative position of said web means to said panel and the relative position of said panel to the adjacent wall structure.

13. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced difiering distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said means comprising a wall frame adapted to be secured to said wall structure, panel frame members secured to said panel, and a pair of scissor type frames connected between said panel frame members and said wall frame and supporting said panel and said panel frame members on said wall frame, each said scissor type frame comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected frame elements each having a pair of spaced interconnected legs and each leg being disposed in crossed relation with a corresponding leg of the other frame element and pivotally connected thereto intermediate the ends of both legs, each of said scissor type frames being provided with means connecting corresponding ends of the legs of one of said elements to said panel frame members for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, means connecting the other ends of said last mentioned legs to said wall frame for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement at right angles to said panel, and means connecting corresponding ends of the legs of the other frame element to said wall frame for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, said scissor type frames being substantially mirror images one of the other with said means connecting the leg ends for pivotal movement about fixed axes relative to the wall frame and panel frame members being disposed remotely from one another and the means connecting the leg ends for sliding movement along the wall frame being disposed adjacent one another, a pair of latch strips extending between said scissor type frames and having two groups of spaced openings individual to said scissor type frames, said other of said frame elements of each scissor type frame having pin means at the other ends of the legs thereof, the pin means of one scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of one of said groups and the pin means of the other scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of the other of said groups, means mounting said latch strips on said panel for movement between first positions in which said pin means are received in aligned ones of said openings and second positions in which said pin means are withdrawn from said openings, a latch handle pivotally mounted on said panel, operating links individual to and connected to said latch strips and pivotally connected to said handle on opposite sides of its pivotal mounting whereby movement of said handle in one direction moves both of said latch strips in a direction to withdraw said pin means from said latch strip openings, and spring means connected between said links and urging said handle in the opposite direction.

14. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said means comprising panel frame members secured to said panel, and a pair of scissor type frames connected between said panel frame members and the wall and adapted to support said panel and said panel frame members on the wall, each said scissor type frame comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected frame elements each having a pair of spaced interconnected legs and each leg being disposed in crossed relation with a corresponding leg of the other frame element and pivotally connected thereto intermediate the ends of both legs, each of said scissor type frames being provided with means connecting corresponding ends of the legs of one of said elements to said panel frame members for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, means adapted to connect the other ends of said last mentioned legs to the wall for sliding movement therealong while preventing movement at right angles to said panel, and means adapted to connect corresponding ends of the legs of the other frame element to the wall for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative thereto, said scissor type frames being substantially mirror images one of the other with said means connecting the leg ends for pivotal movement about fixed axes relative to the wall and panel frame members being disposed remotely from one another and the means adapted to connect the leg ends for sliding movement along the wall being disposed adjacent one another, a pair of latch strips extending between said scissor type frames and having two groups of spaced openings individual to said scissor type frames, said other of said frame elements of each scissor type frame having pin means at the other ends of the legs thereof, the pin means of one scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of one of said groups and the pin means of the other scissor type frame being selectively received in the openings of the other of said groups, means mounting said latch strips on said panel for movement between first positions in which said pin means are received in aligned ones of said openings and second positions in which said pin means are withdrawn from said openings, a latch handle, and means connecting said handle to both of said latch strips for simultaneously moving said latch strips.

15. A freight bracing apparatus .as set forth in claim 14 wherein the latch strips further include means for cooperating with the panel frame members in the second position of said latch strips for guiding the pin means for sliding movement along said latch strips While preventing movement of said pin means at right angles to said panel.

16. A freight bracing apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the means for connecting the handle to the latch strips comprises operating links individual to and connected to said latch strips and pivotally connected to said handle on opposite sides of its pivotal mounting whereby movement of said handle in one direction moves both of said latch strips in a direction to withdraw said pin means from said latch strip openings, and further including spring means connected between said links and urging said handle in the opposite direction.

17. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said means including an element movable parallel to and closely adjacent the face of said panel adjacent the wall structure during movement of said panel relative to said wall structure between said operative positions, said panel having an opening therethrough permitting observation of said element from the opposite side of said panel and indicia on said panel at the positions occupied by said element when said panel is in its operative positions and indicating for each position the spacing of the panel from the wall structure.

18. Freight bracing apparatus adapted to be connected to an associated wall structure and adjustable for supporting freight in a plurality of selected positions relative to said wall structure and against movement toward said wall structure, said apparatus comprising a panel adapted to engage freight and means connecting said panel to said wall structure for movement substantially at right angles to the plane of said wall structure between a stowed position closely adjacent said wall structure and a plurality of desired operative positions spaced differing distances from said stowed position while at all times maintaining said panel in substantially parallel relation to said wall structure, said means comprising a scissortype frame including a pair of frame elements and means pivotally interconnecting said elements intermediate their ends, means connecting one end of one of said elements to said wall structure for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative to said wall structure, means connecting one end of the other of said elements to said panel for pivotal movement about an axis fixed relative to said panel, first cooperating means on said panel and on the other end of said one of said elements connecting said other end of said one of said elements to said panel for sliding movement therealong while holding said end against movement at right angles to said panel, second cooperating means on the other end of said other of said elements connecting that end to said wall structure for sliding movement therealong while holding that end against movement at right angles to said wall structure, means associated with one of 'said cooperating means adapted to releasably and selectively lock the adjacent of said element ends in a plurality of positions spaced between the limits of sliding movement permitted by such cooperating means, .an opening in said panel through which the relative position of said other end of said one element may be viewed, .and indicia means formed on said panel adjacent said opening for indicating the relative position .of said other end of said one element to said panel and the relative position of said panel to said wall structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,798,640 7/ 1957 Coddington. 2,828,804 4/ 1958 Schwinn. 2,958,873 '1 1/ 1960 Ferneau. 3,022,037 2/ 1962 Stallard. 3,077,179 2/ 1963 Evanson 116-124 3,213,458 10/ 1965 Robertson 369 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

D. E. HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,344,750 October 3, 1967 John J. Kostrewa It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 2 line 56 for "postion" read portion column 5, line 73, strike out "a"; column 6, line 65, after "of" insert one of line 66, for "thereto" read thereof line 67, for "and" read an line 74, for "openinges" read openings column 12, line 60, for "3,213,458" read 3,212,458

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of October 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO AN ASSOCIATED WALL STRUCTURE AND ADJUSTABLE FOR SUPPORTING FREIGHT IN A PLURALITY OF SELECTED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND AGAINST MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID WALL STRUCTURE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PANEL ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A FREIGHT AND FRAME MEANS CONNECTING SAID PANEL TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PLANE OF SAID WALL STRUCTURE BETWEEN A STOWED POSITION CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND A PLURALITY OF DESIRED OPERATIVE POSITIONS SPACED DIFFERING DISTANCES FROM SAID STOWED POSITION WHILE AT ALL TIMES MAINTAINING SAID PANEL IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE, SAID FRAME MEANS COMPRISING A FIRST PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL LEGS, A SECOND PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL LEGS AND MEANS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE LEGS OF EACH PAIR OF LEGS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING THE RESPECTIVE LEGS OF SAID PAIRS, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF LEGS AND MEANS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF LEGS CONNECTING CORRESPONDING ENDS THEREOF TO SAID PANEL FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID PANEL, LATCH PIN MEANS ON SAID FIRST PAIR OF LEGS AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, LATCH STRIP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID PANEL AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF LATCH OPENINGS SELECTIVELY RECEIVING SAID LATCH PIN MEANS, MEANS FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID LATCH PIN MEANS AND SAID LATCH STRIP MEANS TO WITHDRAW SAID PIN MEANS FROM SAID OPENINGS, SAID LATCH STRIP MEANS CO-OPERATING WITH SAID PANEL WHEN SAID PIN MEANS IS WITHDRAWN FROM SAID OPENINGS TO GUIDE SAID PIN MEANS FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ALONG SAID PANEL WHILE PREVENTING MOVEMENT AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, CO-OPERATING MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF LEGS TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREALONG WHILE PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THAT END AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE WALL STRUCTURE.
 17. FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO AN ASSOCIATED WALL STRUCTURE AND ADJUSTABLE FOR SUPPORTING FREIGHT IN A PLURALITY OF SELECTED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND AGAINST MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID WALL STRUCTURE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PANEL ADAPTED TO ENGAGE FREIGHT AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID PANEL TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PLANE OF SAID WALL STRUCTURE BETWEN A STOWED POSITION CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND A PLURALITY OF DESIRED OPERATIVE POSITIONS SPACED DIFFERING DIS- 